Integration of Multiple Plasmonic and Co-Catalyst Nanostructures on TiO₂ Nanosheets for Visible-Near-Infrared Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution

Abstract

Utilization of visible and near-infrared light has always been the pursuit of photocatalysis research. In this article, an approach is developed to integrate dual plasmonic nanostructures with TiO2 semiconductor nanosheets for photocatalytic hydrogen production in visible and near-infrared spectral regions. Specifically, the Au nanocubes and nanocages used in this work can harvest visible and near-infrared light, respectively, and generate and inject hot electrons into TiO2 . Meanwhile, Pd nanocubes that can trap the energetic electrons from TiO2 and efficiently participate in the hydrogen evolution reaction are employed as co-catalysts for improved catalytic activity. Enabled by this unique integration design, the hydrogen production rate achieved is dramatically higher than those of its counterpart structures. This work represents a step toward the rational design of semiconductor-metal hybrid structures for broad-spectrum photocatalysis.

Efficient visible light-induced degradation of rhodamine B by W(NxS1−x)2 nanoflowers

“…(1.7*10 −5  A/m −2 )41, Wen et al . (1.75*10 −3  A/m −2 )42, Zhi et al . (3.2*10 −1  A/m −2 )43, Wei et al .…”

Graphene in Photocatalysis: A Review

“…In theory, any conductive materials with higher work function than the Fermi levels of semiconductors, such as noble metal (Pt, Ag, Au, Cu, and their alloys), nano carbons (graphene, carbon nanotubes and C60) and metallic single‐layer nanosheets of transition metal dichalcogenide, could be used to construct the Schottky junction with a n‐type or p‐type semiconductor to achieve the enhanced photocatalytic activity. More interestingly, synergetic utilization of plasmonic effect and Schottky junction through optimizing the interface coupling deserves more attention . Similarly, the favorable Type II heterojunctions, including the n–p and n–n junctions, have been also widely constructed to promote the charge separation between the two different semiconductors, due to the formation of interfacial electrical fields driven by the band alignment .…”

Steering Charge Kinetics of Tin Niobate Photocatalysts: Key Roles of Phase Structure and Electronic Structure

“…Photocatalysis based on semiconductors attracts great attention owning to its potential application in solving the global energy crisis and environmental pollution [4–7]. The light absorption and photogenerated charge carriers may be the mainly limitations of photocatalytic efficiency, both of which are intrinsically controlled by the electronic structure [8–11].…”